Homeless sign up for mobile phones in gift-card scam
14.05.2008 12:00
Shopping
- Source: cbc.ca
A mission in inner-city Winnipeg and a local electronics store are trying to sort out an unusual scam that saw dozens of homeless people sign up for cellphone contracts. Theresa Saunders, a director at Siloam Mission, knew something was up last week when she noticed many of the homeless people who stay at the shelter showing off new cellphones. Saunders then saw a man approaching Siloam clients outside the mission, telling them about a deal that could get them free cellphones for four months. The man offered a ride in his van to a Visions Electronics store in the St. James area of the city to partake in the cellphone offer. As many as 40 of the homeless shelter's clients took him up on it. Upon further investigation, Saunders learned the store was offering a deal in which new cellphone clients were given a $60 store gift card and four months of free mobile service. Most of the Siloam clients turned over the gift card to the man in the van as payment for the ride, Saunders said. Saunders called the store to complain, shocked to learn they were giving the phones to so many of the mission's clients. Most of them are on welfare and will be unable to pay the bills after the free trial period is up, she noted. "You know, how do they do a credit check? How do they, when someone's on social assistance, how do they still qualify for a phone?" she said. "Who's signing you up? Say
[a guy named] George is coming in every day with 30 customers. A flag should go off." Kyle Frizzley, manager at Visions Electronics, said his staff did find the situation strange but didn't know what they could do. "He said, 'I know these people. These are my friends. These are people from my community, and they want cellphones,'" Frizzley said. "It's tricky for us. It would be wrong for us to just start judging people." The man behind the scheme has been contacted and is no longer welcome in the store, Frizzley said. The company is considering legal action against the man. "[They] let him know how disgusted they were," he said. "He was basically taking advantage of people." If the mission's clients turn in their cellphones, Frizzley said, Visions will cancel the contracts at no charge. But Saunders said none of the mission's clients wants to turn in their phone before the free four-month trial period is over. She expects most will be cut off once they rack up a bill. Post a commentPeople have commented on this storyRecommend this storyPeople have recommended this storyStory Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKStory comments (0)Sort:Most recent | First to last | Most recommendedPost your commentNote: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our submission guidelines. Comment:Characters allowed: 2500PostSubmission policyConsumer HeadlinesSmart micro car earns top crash test scores in insurance testing00The 2008 Smart fortwo micro car has earned top scores in crash tests conducted by the U.S. insurance industry.New garbage, recycling bins, coming to Toronto00Some Toronto residents are not happy with the city's new recycling bins, saying they take up too much room. Gas, oil prices hit record highs 00It was only a matter of time. After days of record oil prices, gasoline prices in Canada have also hit record highs, according to a weekly survey of pump prices.Sweat your way to a tax break, suggests Calgary MLA00A Calgary Conservative MLA, who got the legislative ball rolling on a province-wide smoking ban, is now proposing a tax break for fitness.U.S. home foreclosures keep mounting00More U.S. homeowners fell behind on mortgage payments last month, driving the number of homes facing foreclosure up 65 per cent versus the same month last year, a research company said TuesdayConsumer Life FeaturesENERGYEthanol FAQThe merits of alternative fuel still hotly debatedYOUR HOMEFire safetyNo time to spareTRAVELSecurityExpect delays: Countries tighten regulationsBLOGFood BytesNoodles and critters al frescoBLOGComm-OdditiesShipping containers could become condos in DetroitPeople who read this also read …
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